Public artwork vandalized on the RiverWalk

By Mary Louise Schumacher of the Journal Sentinel

Published on: 3/9/2012

A public artwork on the Milwaukee River that retells the story of Gertie the Duck, the mallard that became known around the world at the end of World War II for nesting beneath the Wisconsin Avenue bridge, has been vandalized for the third time since it was installed in 2007.

"Gertie Gets Her Ducks in a Row" by Benjamin "Benno" Rothschild, installed on the RiverWalk near the bridge where the real-life duck became famous through serial newspaper articles, was created in collaboration with children from La Causa, a center which provides shelter and support to neglected and abused children.

The artworks depicts Gertie leading her ducklings as they row a boat downstream (see image below, an image taken after the first repair). Each duck was painted in a different, bright color.

"I am really frustrated with what has happened here," said Rothschild said. "It hasn't even been two years since the last repair...this is a work that was designed to be uplifting and inspiring for people from different generations."

The ducks were torn off and stolen from the artwork. Repairs will cost about $4,000, the artist said, adding that he is not sure whether the RiverWalk will repair the piece again.

"I will more or less have to start over," Rothschild said, adding that if the RiverWalk decided to fix the work, he'll include the children from La Causa once again.

Rothschild graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in 2008, with an emphasis on sculpture. The colorful steel artwork was his first public project.